Democratic Sen. Al Franken and Rep. John Conyers were forced to resign because of sexual harassment claims, and yet, Republican Alabama Senate candidate, Roy Moore, who is leading in the polls, was also accused of sexual misconduct. What makes it unforgivable is that these women were minors at the time.

What is wrong with this picture?

Mary Ruiz San Jose

Jerusalem represents heart, soul of Jewish people

Historically, politically, spiritually and culturally, Jerusalem represents the heart and soul of the Jewish people. Denial of the Jewish connection with Jerusalem, the land of their origins, is dishonest and unacceptable. Mentioned over 660 times in the Hebrew Bible, Jerusalem was the beating heart of Jewish faith more than a thousand years before the birth of Christianity, and two-and-a-half millennia before the birth of Islam. The Koran does not mention Jerusalem at all.

Only under Israeli sovereignty has Jerusalem and its religious sites been open to all people. Under Muslim control from 1948-1967, the Jews were expelled from the Old City and their ancient synagogues destroyed. If Palestine is granted statehood it will be the 57th Muslim majority country. Israel, is the only Jewish majority country in the world. The Jewish people are indigenous to Israel. The Jewish people deserve support.

Sheree Roth Palo Alto

Trump’s actions will lead to violence in Jerusalem

What is driving President Trump to throw the Middle East into turmoil by recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel? How are his actions benefiting or strengthening the United States? His Secretaries of State and Defense, our European and Middle Eastern allies — even the Vatican — cautioned him not to do it, even as our State Department issued warnings to all Americans abroad. His actions are endangering the lives of Israelis and Palestinians, and have derailed any hope for peaceful resolution. Is Trump ignorant of the historical reason the U.S. embassy — like that of all other countries — is in Tel Aviv? His actions may pander to his evangelical Christian base and the election in Alabama, but being very familiar with Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza, my heart hurts for the eruption of violence that is bound to come from this senseless act toward a city holy to Jews, Muslims and Christians.

The Rev. Ernest W. Cockrell San Jose

U.S. embassy won’t move any time soon

The world should relax and be patient. The United States embassy in Israel will not be moved to Jerusalem any time soon, regardless of what President Trump proposes. President Trump’s conservative approach to governing will soon end when the Republican party loses control of Congress in 2018, and the presidency in 2020.

Joseph RizzutoLos Gatos

Strengthen Bay Bridge toll plaza barriers

The loss of life at the Bay Bridge toll plaza should not have happened. It should be painfully clear to everyone that the toll booth barriers are inadequate and need to be redesigned. I would suggest that we harden the barriers to a standard that would be able to withstand a fully loaded 18-wheel big rig running in to them at 80 mph. We need to make absolutely certain that Caltrans workers are as safe as we can possibly make them. At a cost of $6.4 billion, the least the Bay Bridge should be able to do is keep the toll workers safe.

Republican tax cuts will stifle future growth

We have let the rich dominate our society in a new and unprecedented manner. The GOP tax cut gives them wealth at the level of the obscene while we pass along a great debt to America’s children. It is the epitome of hypocrisy for the Republicans to increase our national debt after decades of vehemently assailing the Democrats of doing the same.

The disparity between the middle/poor class and the rich continues to grow, and it is outrageous. Science indicates that in the short term, the disparity increases growth, but in the long term it will stifle growth and lead to great divisions within our society, with more poor, homeless, more crime, and an increasingly unhealthy population that becomes an economic burden to us all. It will lead to a call to arms at the same time of the great climate migration. God help us.